Set Up New Recycling Systems
There is a long list of items and materials that you can recycle in the workplace. Whether you're starting from scratch or building upon previous work there are lots of items you can recycle. Some will save you money, some will be cost neutral and some might come at a cost but all of them will help reduce your workplace's impact on the environment and make your business more sustainable.
Considerations
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Office paper, newsprint, magazines, cardboard, phonebooks
There are numerous companies, like Visy (www.visy.com.au, 1300 368 479), that provide paper recycling services. These services usually involve collection bins, call centre support and signage. -
Glass and plastic bottles and jars and aluminium and steel cans Depending upon your workplace you can arrange for collection of all of these items or for specific ones. The placement and collection of recycling bins comes at a cost but many businesses have found that they save money by setting up recycling. Scratchleys Restaurant in Newcastle NSW found that having a recycling bin removed form their premises cost them $6.80 while it cost $10.85 to have a garbage bin removed. They saved money by adding recycling bins.
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E-waste including computers, printers
Discarded electronics (or e-waste) is the fastest growing waste stream in Australia. As individuals and businesses upgrade electronics like computers, TVs, videos etc at ever increasing rates, more and more programs are springing up to reuse or recycle the old equipment. Some programs refurbish the equipment and sell it or donate it to charities. Others collect, dismantle and recycle the materials.
When purchasing new electronic equipment ask the supplier if they can take and recycle old equipment. Businesses, especially small operators and sole traders can search for local drop off locations at RecyclingNearYou.com.au - Printer cartridges
If your workplace uses more than 3 cartridges a month (36/year) it may be eligible for the free 'Cartridges 4 Planet Ark' program. This program collects all types of printer consumables and processes them with a zero waste to landfill guarantee. You'll receive a collection box (or boxes) and a starter kit. Once the box is full you just need to call the hotline and arrange a (free) courier pick up.
If your workplace doesn't use three or more cartridges a month you can drop the ones you do use at participating Australia Post, Harvey Norman, Officeworks, Dick Smith, PowerHouse and Tandy stores.
For more information visit PlanetArk.org/cartridges or
call the Cartridge Hotline on 1300 24 24 73.
This program is an example of enhanced producer responsibility in action. The costs of recycling and the program promotion are paid for by the cartridge manufacturers including Major Sponsors Lexmark, HP, and Brother, Associate Sponsor Konica Minolta and Supporting Sponsors Panasonic, Epson and Canon. - Mobiles
Mobile phones contain both valuable and harmful materials. MobileMuster is the industry funded program established to increase recycling rates for mobile phones and chargers. There are drop off locations around the country that you can take your phone to or you can register your workplace as a collection site. For more information visit mobilemuster.com.au - Batteries
Batteries, including single use and rechargables, contain both valuable and dangerous materials. In some states certain batteries are considered toxic waste and can't be disposed of in the general garbage. See our fact sheet on Battery Recycling.
You can find more information about a range of battery recycling programs by searching the following sites:
- Compact and normal fluorescent light globes
Fluorescent tubes contain glass, aluminium phosphor powder and mercury (which is toxic). Tubes, both compact fluros and traditional tubes, can be recycled to recover the valuable resources and safely deal with toxic elements.
You can find more information about a range of fluorescent recycling programs by searching the following sites:
- Food scraps and garden waste
Organic waste in landfill breaks down without oxygen (anaerobic) to form methane - a greenhouse gas 20 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. Keeping food and garden waste out of landfill helps reduce greenhouse gases. If your workplace generates garden cuttings you can dispose of these in the compost areas of local recycling stations or landfill sites. Some councils offer green waste collection or, if you have space, a compost bin can turn garden cuttings into compost.
There is a range of commercial size composting systems that cafes, restaurants, clubs and factories can use to diver food waste from landfill. These include 120 litre bokashi buckets (www.eco-organics.com.au/BBcommercial.html) and commercial worm farms.
